Manchester’s social enterprise businesses could follow in the footsteps of smartphone app ParentHub by dipping into a £500,000 funding pot.

The Big Issue Invest CSV Programme will be launched by north west social impact organisation the First Ark Group and its partners.

Alongside funding opportunities attendees will also get one-on-one advice from successful entrepreneurs on building contacts and breaking into social impact sectors.

The free half day event has been designed for social businesses in Greater Manchester looking to transform or for entrepreneurs with inspiring new social business ideas.

Bob Taylor, CEO of the First Ark Group, said: "We want to see the region’s social businesses flourish, which is why we’re working with partners to create a mechanism to offer as much accessible help as possible for early-stage enterprises.

"Together, we can guide individuals with viable business opportunities around the obstacles securing funding can present, in order to release their idea’s full potential and create success.

"The preview of the CSV Programme will be of particular interest to those attending.

"Alongside significant financial investment, the programme offers invaluable mentoring, including the creation of business plans, marketing support, social impact assessment and introductions to useful contacts from some of the UK’s best known organisations.

"Last year, we mentored two start-ups to success, with both businesses securing £50,000 of CSV funding towards future development - a brilliant result.”

Social businesses are defined as enterprises which are created and designed to address a specific social problem.

In particular, social businesses generate profits which are invested back into the business itself to help it grow, or are used to start other social businesses, with the ultimate aim of increasing social impact.

One example is ParentHub, a Manchester-based education smartphone app creator, which successfully secured £50,000 of investment from the CSV Programme’s 2014 fund.

The event takes place on March 4 at the Friends’ Meeting House, in Manchester from 1.30pm.